The other day, I was sitting at a diner in an airport in upper New York. Suddenly, someone shouted,

"Look at that rainbow!"

I thought it was odd for an adult to say something like that, let alone in a loud voice in an airport restaurant. Well, a few people stood up, and everyone who stood up walked to the window. That was odd too. I was one of the last in the diner to stand up because my view was obstructed by a pole. "What's the big deal," I thought. Finally, I gave in and I got up too. Then I saw the enticing view! It was not only a huge full rainbow, but there were two rainbows. One was low to the ground, the other higher in the heavens and both extremely close to the window.

This breathtaking view captivated all who saw it. How often do we stop to consider creation? Even more importantly: How often do we stop to acknowledge our Creator?

I have a friend who is a thoughtful and committed Christian. He is also a scientist who earned his PhD in chemistry from a top tier university and works for a BioSolutions company. Recently he shared with me three questions and answers that he rehearses in his heart whenever doubts arise. They are as follows:

1. Are you sure there is really a God at all?

2. Why are you convinced that the God of the Bible is the Creator and the one and only true God?

3. Even if the answers to the first two questions are true, so what? Do you really need this surprising and compelling God?

The answer to the first question is "Yes!" The complex and beautiful design of the universe, the human body, the majestic mountains, the rising and setting sun, and the millions of creatures that soar in the skies, swim in the waters, and walk on the land compel me to believe that a God exists.

This is exactly what the apostle Paul writes about in his letter to the Romans. At the start of his letter, Paul makes clear that there is a God, that he is the creator of everything, and that, deep down, everyone knows this. Day after day, season after season, God plainly reveals through creation something of his "eternal power and divine nature," and yet we "suppress the truth" (Romans 1:18, 20).

This leads to the answer to the second question. My friend says he is convinced that the God of the Bible is the only true God because, among all the sacred texts and belief systems the world has to offer, he finds the Bible to depict the only "surprising" God, whose nature, character, and actions are surprisingly different than all the other "gods" created by human imagination and found in all the world's religions.

One surprise is that the Bible teaches that God is Trinity--three persons in one God (Father, Son, and Spirit). Another surprise is that the Bible teaches that God devised the most amazing plan of salvation, which includes Jesus--the Son of God--becoming human, living in our world, teaching profound wisdom, performing marvelous miracles, dying on a cross, and rising from the dead. A God who is born a baby? A God who walks on earth? A God who suffers? A God who dies? It's all very surprising; but also, very compelling.

His third answer, though, is the most important. Even if I grant that all this is true, why does it matter to me?

The answer is that I have a big problem. I'm a big-time sinner. And I'm not alone. Everyone on earth has the same problem. However much people might think that they are good, when confronted with the holiness of God, they know in their hearts they are unworthy and in desperate need of salvation from their sin.

Now, you would think that it is good news that there is a God, that he is our Creator, and that he reveals himself to us through creation. However, the problem is that we suppress the truth. We don't even get up to see the double rainbow, or if we do, we don't stop to worship God, as we should. Instead, we do more than suppress the truth, we worship other gods (for example, we worship ourselves, our job, our money, our reputation, our pleasures, our hobbies, a celebrity, a sports team) and live our lives by our own rules rather than our Creator's. Paul lists a few ways we live by our own rules (also called "sins"), such as pride, covetousness, cruelty, envy, murder, strife, deceit, gossip, and slander. You might add other sins, perhaps sins that you struggle with, such as greed, lust, gluttony, sloth, and anger. Those are some deadly sins, according to the Bible; Paul himself says, "Those who practice such things deserve to die" (Romans 1:32).

That is the bad news. But Paul doesn't give only the bad news in his letter to the Romans. He gives good news. Really good news! The best news of all; what he calls "the gospel of God" (Romans 1:1). He announces that gospel in the first verse of his letter and then he explains it throughout the rest of it. In the first three chapters he makes clear that no one measures up to God's holy standards. Not even the "good" person is good enough. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). We are all sinners in need of God's forgiveness and under the wrath of God. God doesn't take our sin against him lightly.

He also doesn't see our situation as hopeless. He solves our problem by sending his Son to die for us: "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). What amazing love! But if we stay in our sin and refuse to accept this good news, our future won't be so good ("The wages of sin is death"; Romans 6:23a). God will judge sin. He will rightly condemn all who refuse him. However, if we receive Jesus, and the forgiveness he accomplished on our behalf, we are given "the free gift of God" which is "eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23b).

What amazing news! Good news! The gospel. How then do we receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord? Paul provides the answer. If we confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved from our sin (see Romans 10:9) because "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:13).

Would you like to do that today? Right now? If so, then pray to God something like this:

Father, I acknowledge you are my holy Creator. I confess that I am a sinner who has sinned against you, by not acknowledging you as God, not worshiping you, and not walking in your ways. I believe that you sent your Son Jesus to die on the cross and rise again so that my sin can be forgiven forever. Please fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I can live as a follower of Christ. Guide me to a church that believes your Bible and will help me follow and tell others about you. In Jesus's name I pray, amen.